Ballot distributing and registering machine



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet l. E. B. OLM'STED. BALLT DISTRIBUTING AND RBGISTERING MACHINE.

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EN xx (No Model.) LSheets-Sheet 2.

E. B. OLMSTED. l l BALLOT DISTRIBUTING AND RBGISTERING MACHINE.

N0. 548,325( Patente/(10011.22, 1895.

(No Model.)

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BALLOT DISTRIBUTING AND REGISTERING MACHINE.

@4% Q Mio rne 13 (No Model.)

BALLOT D'ISTRIBUTING AND REGISTERING MACHINE. No. 548,325. Patented 055. .22, 1895.

Witnesses P I 7g i We* l v l14Sheets-811555 4. E. B. OLMSTED;

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

p EDWIN B. OLMSTED, OF DELEVAN, NEW YORK.

BALLOT DlSTRIBUTlNG AND -REGiISTEFlING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,325, dated October 22, 1895. Application filed Februaryv 23, 1895. Serial No. 539,448. (No model.)

Zio @ZZ whoml it may concern.;

Be it. known that I, EDWIN B. OLMsTED, a citizen of the United States, residingat Delevan, in the county of Cattaraugus and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Voting-Machines; and 1 do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which-it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates, generally, to votingmachines, and particularly to machines for delivering ballots to voters, and it has for its object to provide a durable and comparativelyy inexpensive machine adapted lto de liver a ballot to a voter and at the same time register the delivery thereof, the mechanism constituting the machine lbeing so arranged and constructed as to be set in motion by a weight dropped into the machine by the voter; and it consists of the parts and com` binations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication, Figurefl is a vertical sectional View of my machine on the line 0 6,.Fig. 2; Fig. 2, a front elevation with the front end of the casing removed; Fig. 3, a vertical sectional view on the line y y, Fig. 2;l Fig. 4, a plan View of the machine with the top removed; Fig. 5, a detail perspective view of the tape-cutting device;.Fig. 6, a detail front elevation of the tapecutting device; andFig. 7, a horizontal section on the line ze, Fig. 2. l

Similar numerals refento similar parts throughout all the views.

`Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1' represents the casing of lmy improved mal chine, which consists of a plain rectangular case or box having an end or rear door therein, within which the operative parts'of my machine are arranged and secured in compact `form, as will be described. At the rear end .of the casing a bar 2 is arranged across lthe doorway and secured at each end to the side walls of the casing,'and on this bar rests and is suitably secured the rear end of the envelope-receptacle 3, the forward or delivery end'of said receptacle resting on and being firmlysecnred to the top edge ort' `a partition distance from lthe front wall thereof to form y a passage 5 therebetween, said passage being preferably slightly Haring toward its lower `end. The sides 6 of the envelope-receptacle also incline toward the delivery end thereof, and a strip/ metal? connects the upper part thereof. -The forward ends are out away, as at 8, to -form an irregular line, for apurpose to be hereinafter described.

To the 'forward ends of the sides 6 are secured narrow metal guide-plates 9, the front edges of which arecut away or formed to correspond tothe shape of the end of the sides 5 of the envelope receptacle and .terminate in rounded forward 'projections 10, as clearly shown in Figs. l and 3.

At each side of the end of the envelope-re ceptacle at its bottom a rubber block l1 is insorted, so as to project slightly beyond lthe edge of 'said receptacle. To a vertical cleat 12, secured to the front side of the partition 4 within the passage 5,is horizontally-adjust-- ably secured a metal plate 13 by means'of screws passing through slots in the plate, and a similar plate13 is secured in the same manner to the side Wall of the casing. The plates 13 o'n their adjacent faces are formed with vertical grooves '14, which extend to a pointon a line with the upper surface of the bottorn of/thevrecepta'cle 3, the ygroove being slightly flaring at its upper end, asat 15, Fig..

3, from which point the rear wall of the groove is removed to the top of the plate and the remaining wall is formed with a rounded projectiou.l6, extending over'` the line of the groove, as -best shown in Fig. 3, and inwardly.

toward the plates 9 on the receptacle 3.. The plates 13- are' secured in position slightly beyond the walls 6 of the receptacle and infront of the same.

To `a cleat 18,secured lto the side wall of they casing, is secured a square spout or chute 19, having a rounded opening 2O in its front wall at the top, which corresponds with an opening 2l in the front wall of thecasing. Inthe side walls of the spout o'r chute 19 are formed the grooves 22, in which the metal stirrup 23 of a metal platform 24 slides,said platform beingprovided with rubber` or other pad 25 to deaden the noise made by the operating-ball,

as will be described. To the center of the bottom ot the platform 24iis securely attached the upper end of a metal bar 26, to the other end of which is rigidly secured the envelopepicker, which consists of a thin, metal plate.

27, as wide as the length of the envelopes to be operated upon, having at its lower edge a thin metal plate 28, the edge of which is formed with a slightly-inward curve at its center, as at 29, which is slightly sharpened, said plate 2S being secured to the plate 27 by hinges 30,

Y as best shown in Fig.l 2, whereby said plate 28 may swing thereon. At the'lower edge of the plate 23 at each end is secured or formed a' projecting pin 31, adapted to enter the grooves 14 of the metal plates 13, and which during Ithe vertical movement of the picker travel through said grooves and cutfaway portion of the plates 13, and are deflected out, of a true-y vcrtical plane by contact-in their downward strokeagainst the rounded projection 16 of said plates, thus turning or deleeting the swinging plate 28 inwardly-against the cutaway ends ot the sides of theenvelope-receptacle and being deflected outwardly and into lthe grooves 14 when the pins 31 strike against the projections 10 of the' guide-plates 9 on` said receptacle, in which grooves the pins travel to the end of their stroke.

At the lower end of the spout or chute 19 at its rear side is formed an opening 32, similar to the opening 20 at its'upper end, which opens onto the bottom of an inclined open' chute or spout 33, secured to the side of said chute 19 and extending laterally or atlright angles therefrom toward the side wall of the easing 1. The bottom of the chute 33 'at its lower end terminates at a vertical chute 34, whose walls on three sides extend to the top ofthe sides of the chute 33, the wall next to said chute being cut away, so that an object fallinlgvfrom the end of the bottom of the chute 33 will drop into the chute 34. lThe chute 34 is formed with vertical grooves 35, in which slide the stirrups 36 ot a ball-platform 37, similar to platform 24, said stirrups,

being connected by a cord Aorehain 38, which passes'over wheels 39, which are xjourualed in bearings between the short bars 40, arranged diagonally across one corner of the casing above said chutes. One' end of the cord or chain 39 is connected directly to the lstirrup 23 and its other end to a rod 4l, attachedt'o strrups 36, on which is secured a counterbalancing-weight 42 to equalize the platforms, one of which being heavier than the other. owing to the addition of .the weight of the picker-plate thereto. At ythe lower end lof chute 34 an opening 43 is for|ne'd,which communicates with a similar opening 44, formed in the side wall of the casing of the machine,

both openings being indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

ln the rear wall of the chute 34a slot 45 is formed, which is in line with the'groove 35, into which the end of the long arm of'a lever. '46 normally projects, said leverbeing piv- 'oted inl ears or lugs 47, secured to the rear wall of saidchute, whereby the stirrup 36 in its downward movement will strike against and swing outwardly the endv of the arm. The short arm 48 of the lever 46 is bent rearwardly and formed with a couuterbalance 49 to return and hold the long arm in its normal position in the slot and in the path of the stirrup. To vperforated ears 50 on the short arm ot' the lever is pivotally attached one end of apawl`51.

The pawl 51 extends to and engages a ratchet-wheel 52, mounted on a shaft 53, having its bearings in a bracket 54, secured to theunder side of the bar 2, on which shaft, alongside said wheel 52, is mounted a frictiondisk 55,l of rubber or other suitable material. A suitable s top,'as 56, attached to bar 2 limits'the throw of the pa'wl. At a suitable distance below the shaft 53 a table or platform 57 is suitably supported, in `the upper surface voit which is formed a T-shaped groove y53, vadapted to receive a similar-shaped tongue 59, formed on the bottom of a block 60, to the front end of which is hinged the paper-tape guide and cutting device, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. IThis device consists of a block 61,

the front end of which is hinged to block 60,

so as to rest on the free end of a curved fiat spring 62,the opposite end of which is secured to said'bloc'k 60. The upper part ot` the block 61 is channeled its entire length, as at 63,' theA front end of said channel being curved or 'rounded oft on a long curve, as at 64, and its rear end being formed with a sharper curve, as at 65, and being covered by acurved plate 66,attached to the walls of the channel and extending ,at one side beyond the same, thus forming a curved passage at the rear end of the channel.

To the bottom of the block 61 is attached a metal plate 67, so as to leave a space between said plate and the under surface ot said block; in which spaceaknife-bladeGSisarranged,cne end of which is pivoted between the extended end of the curved plate 66, which is provided with a lugfor this purpose, and the extended end of plate 67, the other end ot said knife blade extending outwardly to form a handle,

whereby a shear cut may be made between saidblade and the lower edge of the curved plate 66. The disk 55 rests in yielding'contact with the bottom ot' the channel 63,'and

when operated tends to feed thetpaper tape 69, which extends through said channel from a paper-carrying spool 70, mounted in a suitable bracket 71, secured to thebottom of the casing l by a T-joint 72, whereby the bracket 4may be removed to renew thel tape when necessary.

The door73 is provided with suitable lock,

preferablyof a combination-type, and aspringmetal slightly-curved plate 74 is secured to the edge thereof and projects iuwardl \7 therefrom, on which is formed a projection 75, having an incliuing outer face and a front face, as at 76,"wh'ich nclines slightly toward its lower end. This plate 74 is arranged on the door in line with the knife-blade 68, and when the same is thrown out, as shown in Fig. l,the

'handle of the saine, which is curved, as shown,

is in position to be struck by the door in the act of closing the saine and turned inward, the end of the spring-plate 74 passing the end of the handle, and when the dooris fully closed the projection 75 lies behind the end of the handle in position to throwthe blade out when the door is opened. In moving the blade out the same is kept up close' against the lower edgeof the curved plate 66, owing to the inclined face ot' the projection 75 bearing thereagainst and tending to raise said blade,- whereby a clean, sharp, shear cut will be made through the paper tape lying in and proj ecting from the curved passage between the plate 66 and the bottom of the channel 63 in block 6l. I

To the inner face of the end wall of the casing 1 l secure a tapering block 77 vertically in position immediately in front of the discharge end of the envelope-receptacle, the lower end of said block being beveled, as

one end of a flat curved spring 78, the free ends of which are in contact with and press the picker-platcs 27 and 28 inwardly, so as to hold the same against the envelopes 79 in the .receptacle at all times, both during the movement of the picker and when it is at rest.

A pusher 80, consisting of a triangularshaped trough carrying aweigh-t 81, is placed in Athe receptacle in rear of the envelopes and bearing or resting thereagainst, which follows the envelopes down the inclined bottom of the receptacle and holds the same in their upright position. t

The operatingvball is shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 3, and is of sufficient weight to lower platform 24 and thus raise theplatform 37 when itis dropped through the opening 21 onto platform 24.

The paper tape 69 has printed thereon a series of numbers,beginning at zero or cipher, which are spaceda-suitable distance apart, and which correspond to or exceed the number of voters who have been registered in the particular voting district in which the machine is to 'be used. The tape, wound on a spool, is then arranged in the bracket-bearing 7l and the end thereof led up to and over the table 6l through the channel therein and carried back to and under the curved plate 65, leaving the tape in such position that the first movement of the disk or roller will move the tape backwardly till its first number 1, printed thereon, will be carried past the knife-blade 68, and bringing the next nu,mber"2 in position to be moved a like distance by the next movement of disk or roller 55. A number of ballots corresponding to the number of registeredvoters are folded and placed Ain envelopes, and the envelopes turned upside down and with their backs forward are arranged upright -in the envelope case 3 and .the weighted pusher Sdptaced behind them, so as'to retain them in their upright position and to press them forward.

In order to set the mechanism in motion, theiball isvdropped through the opening 21 in the front wall of the case and onto platform 24, thus causing the latter to descend in chute 19 and through the cord or chain 38 raising scend in chute 34 and off of which it rolls through an opening 43 in the chute an'd out through an opening 44 in the sidewall of the case. During the descent of platform 24 the y swinging plate 2S of' the picker 4is deflected out of a vertical plane, as hereinbefore described, and caused 'to engage the flap of the envelope at the delivery end of the envelopereceptaclc, when the pins 31 at the ends of said plate, striking againstthe projections 10 on the guide-plates 9, deect the swinging plate 28 outward, which carries the envelope with it and past the rubber 4blocks 11,' which serve to prevent the escape of the next enm velope with the one engaged by theplate;

vThe outward movement given the plate causes balance of the downward stroke of the picker.

The envelope-apis held against the plate vby the block 77 till the free edge of the flap passes the end ofl the block, when it tiles out beyond the block and is prevented thereby being carried up bythe picker on its upper stroke should it through any cause have ay tendency to adhere to the picker. velopes drop. olf the picker and are removed 4through an opening in the front or bottom,

if' preferred, of the case.

IOC

The eni .During the downward movement of plat- V form 37 it strikes against and throws ontwardly the long arm of lever46, which normally lies in the sl'ot 45 of chute 34 thus causing the pawl 51 to impart a partial revolution to the ratchet-wheel 52, and consequently' to the roller or disk 55,thereby'mloving the tape 69 backwardly at each completestroke of the picker-plate a predetermined distance.

`After the poll has closed the officers inv charge open the door 73 of the case, causing the projection 75 on the spring-plate 74, atV tached t'o said door, to engage the handle of knife-blade 68 and swing the same out with the door, thus cutting off the projecting por tion of the tape 69,the'l last number on such severed portion showing the number of complete movements of the picker, and conse- -quently the number of ballots delivered to l. The combination, in a voting machine of an envelope receptacle,

mechanism for positively engaging and removing an envelope from said receptacle, and a weight for im parting a vertical reciprocation to said mechanism, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a voting machine, of

an envelope receptacle, means for feeding the envelopes in an upright position from end to end of said receptacle, and means adaptedto be reciprocated by a weightjfor positivelyengaging and .automatically removing the envelopes, one at a time, from the front end of said-receptacle, substantially as described.

3,. The combination, in a voting machine, of an envelope receptacle adapted to hold envelopes in an upright position, means for pressing the envelopes toward the discharge end of said receptacle, a picker for removing envelopes, one at a time, from the discharge end.

of said receptacle, and a free weight whose passageV through the machine-imparts avertias described.

4. The combination, in a voting machine, of an envelope receptacle adapted to hold envelopes in an upright position therein, a gravity actuated pusher for pressing the envelopes toward the discharge end of the receptacle, meansforpreventingt eaccidentaldischar-ge of the envelopes, a verticalv reciprocating picker for removing the envelopes, one at a. ot' said recepta. 4actuated by the picker acttime,t'rom the discharge end cle, and means, netting-mechanism, for registering the-number of envelopes removed, substantially 'as described.

5., The combination, in a voting machine, of`

an envelope receptacle adapted to hold envelopes in an upright position,therein, apusher for pressing the envelopes toward the disavertically movcharge end ot the receptacle, able picker for engaging the velopes one at a time, the receptacle, a platform connected to said picker, a weight for imparting a vertical reciprocation to picker and platform, and means for directing the picker in its vertical movementi, substantially as described. y

G. The combination, in a voting machine, of an envelope receptacle adaptedto hold en vel- Iiaps ofsaid 'enopes therein in an upright positioma ver-ti# cally reciprocating picker having a swinging plate formi-ng its lower edge for-engaging the aps el? ',"yaid"envelopes to remove the same,

cal reciprocation to saidpicker, substantiallyy 'tion pads-arranged at the discherg vsaid receptacle, aguide plate attachee vside of isaid discharge end, groeved -bars arranged adjacent .te andvin to remove them from' one at a time, from said receptacle, means'for holding the picker against the envelopes, means for holdingvthe flaps against said swinging gate, and means for deliecting the picker out of a true perpendicular line in its reciprocation with the picker, substantially 'as described.

7. The combination, in a voting machine, of an envelope receptacle adaptedto hold envel- .opes therein in an upright position, a movable .'platfortn,` a picker vsecured to said platform adapted to-remove the envelopes-oneat a time,'from'said receptacle, a counter-balancing .platform connected to the piclrer-platform, and a loose weight adapted to move the picker-platform downwardlyr its full stroke and thento depress or lower the counterbal'- v`ancing platform, whereby the picker4 platform is raised to its normal position, substantially as described.

8. The combination, in a voting machine, of an envelope receptacle adapted to hold envelopes'therein in an upright position, a movable platform, a picker having a 'swinging plate forming 4.its lower edge rigidly attached to said platform@ eounterbalancing platform, a

' chain connecting said platform, a'loose weight for moving the picker-platform its full stroke and for causing the counter-balancing plat- -torm te descend at the end of the stroke of the picker-platform to return the latter to its n'ormalpositien,.1and means, operated by the descending counterbalaneing platform, to register the number of envelopes removed, substantially as described.

9. The combination,in a-voting machine of an envelope receptacle adaptedto hold enn Velopes in an upright position therein, fricguide ant of said guide plates,a picker having swinging plate lfornciing its lower edge, pins secured at each side of said edge, means for imparting.

a vertical reciprocation to said picker, and means for holding. said picker against the discharge'end ef said envelope4 receptacle,

' substantially as described.

10. The combination, in a voting machine,

of an envelope `receptacle adapted to hold en- `velopes, therein inain-upright fposit-ien, a `-re i ci'precating picker for removing-the envelopes, one at a time, from said receptacle, means forguidingthe picker in its movements, a vertically movable counterbalancing platform connected to said picker, a pivoted -lever having its long arm `projected into the pathof said platform,-and having a weighted short arm, a pawl pivotally connected to said short arm,'a shaft, a ratchet wheel mounted thereon, a friction disk arranged on said shaft,

a tape supporting block held in yielding cont'aetwith said disk, and a paper tape holding spool, substantially as described.

l1. The combination,

in axvoting machine, with anx envelope-receptacle,a picker for rerzo l vmoving the envelopes, one at a time, yfrom 'said receptacle, and means for automatically 'lY reciprocating said picker, of a device for regf for limiting the throw'ofthepawl, azshaft, a ratchet -4 wheel, mounted thereon, a friction distance at each reciprocation .tiall y as described.

disk on said shaft alongside of 'said-ratchet wheel, a channeled block-v held in yielding contact with said .disk,wpaper` tape extend? ing through .the'channeL and a removable spool for holding, said paper tape, substan-A 13. The combination, in a.' voting machine, with an envelope receptacle, a. picker for removing envelopes, one at a time, therefrom, and means forimparting a vertical 'reciprocationto said pickenof a registering device connected to the means for 'reciprocating thel picker, and comprising a paper'tape wound on aspool, andmeansfor feedingornnwindng said tape loft, its l spool predetermined I l of'ihe picker,v substantially asdeseribed.

4 14. The combination, 'in .a voting machine, with an envelope receptacle',v a picker for 12e-- vmoving the envelopes, one at a time,th`ere from, and means for impartinga vertical-ref ciprocation to'said.picker,lo f adevice. actu-I ated by the picker actuating ,mechanism for` registering the number of envelopes removed by the picker,'comprising apap'er tapewo'u'nd r4on a spool-means forv unwind-ing the sameA a predetermined distance at' each reciprocation' of the picker,.and ailrnife'bladeadapted to antomaticallycat 0E4 the projecting end ot said tape whenthe door of the casing of the machine is opened, substantially as 'described 15. The combination, ina voting machine, with an envelope receptacle `adapted to hold envelopes upright therein, a picker for rmovf ing the envelopes, one at a. time, therefrom,

and means for impartinga vertical reciproca.-

picker Aactuating mechanism', yfor registering the number of envelopes v' removed,'said device comprising a 4paper tape wound on a'spool, a friction disk forunwindingfth'e tape a predetion to said picker, cfa device, actuated lby the Y termined distance at 'each recprocation of the i picker, a cnrved'plate, aknife blade pivotallyl 6o secured to said'plate, and .means .connecting the blade andthe door of the casing of the machine, whereby the tape will be severedinstantlyv npon 'opening the door, substantially e 5.

as' described.

16'. The combination, inla voting machine,

of .a casing having adoor, aspring metal plate having a projection thereon' secured at` one `end .to said door,'an envelope receptacle,l a

. v 7e time, therefrom, n leanslfor` vertically reciprol ca ting saidpicker, a device, actuated by the picker for. removing the envelopes, one at av picker Aactuating zmechanism',.for registering thenumbe'r of envelopes-removed-- by the' pieken-said .device comprising a paper tape tapeafpredetermined distance ateach .reci'p' rocation of the'picker, and a. -knife blade-pivotally attachedv to the tape unwinding device,

` whereby'the'spring platelattached'to the door ini presence of two-Wittlosses.

, 1. EDWIN B. 'OLMSTED Witnesses: 4

BER'rHaLj. DANA, lYlc'ron J. Evans,

`wound on'a spool, `l'ncansfor unwinding' said i 8o may swingt'he free'ed of said knife o u'tlwardly to-sever thefproje'ctingend "of the tape, y when the door. isopen'ed,and' moving itinto position to be swung inwardly when the door is closed, substantially as described.

8s VIrl-testimonywhereof I aixpxy signatilre 

